Texas A&M tops No. 13 LSU in back-and-forth affair to open SEC play

Game #17: Texas A&M 6, No. 13 LSU 4
Records: Texas A&M (11-6, 1-0), LSU (14-4, 0-1)
WP: Chris Cortez (3-1)
LP: Eric Reyzelman (1-1)
Box Score

Friday night fight. Friday night win.

In a back-and-forth ballgame, Texas A&M took the series opener from No. 13 LSU on Friday night at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, 6-4. Taking the lead for good in the top of the ninth, the Aggies begin 1-0 in SEC play.

“It feels really good,” Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle said. “We got some big hits tonight.”

Tied 4-4 in the ninth, Kole Kaler doubled to left off Eric Reyzelman with one out. On the eighth pitch of the ensuing at-bat, a flare to center by Austin Bost brought the Hawaii transfer around to put A&M on top. Dylan Rock added an insurance marker with an RBI infield single.

“We were just being competitive,” Rock said. “We’ve been talking about being gritty all week because we need a little more grit when we’re at the plate, battling with two strikes, getting it done any way we can. That’s what we did.”

Chris Cortez retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the ninth, punching out Tre’ Morgan to earn his third win of the year.

“My heart is racing,” Cortez said. “It was the best thing I've ever experienced. That's why I came here. That's what I wanted to do, play in the SEC.”

Kaler finished 2-for-4 with a run-driven-in and two runs scored in the leadoff spot. Bost and Rock were the only other Aggies to register a multi-hit night, each going 2-for-5 with critical RBIs.

“It was pretty awesome,” Rock said of the win. “It was electric. It was a dogfight all the way through. It was a great time.”

With A&M trailing 3-2, a Logan Britt sacrifice bunt moved Ryan Targac into scoring position with two outs in the seventh. Following an infield single by Kaler, Targac never stopped at third, scoring the tying run on a throwing error by the first baseman Morgan. After swiping third, Kaler gave the Ags the lead after right fielder Giovanni DiGiacomo dropped a dying liner off the bat of Bost.

In relief of Nathan Dettmer with two outs in the fifth, Jacob Palisch tossed 2.1 innings while allowing just two hits and striking out three. A Dylan Crews leadoff single chased Palisch in the eighth. Crews would ultimately score on a fielder’s choice to tie the game, 4-4.

Enter Will Johnston, who walked the first man he faced before hitting Cade Doughty to load the bases with nobody out. After getting an out, Johnston ultimately gave way to Cortez, who induced a pair of groundouts to preserve the tie.

Meredith Tabor, TexAgs

Cortez tossed the final 1.2 innings of scoreless ball to slam the door on a crucial victory for the Aggies.

“It’s pretty awesome for a freshman to come in and throw as many strikes as he did,” Schlossnagle said of Cortez.

A second-inning power surge put the Aggies in front early. Starting in place of the injured Blake Money, LSU’s Ty Floyd served up back-to-back home runs to Rock and Targac as the Aggies took a 2-1 advantage.

“I just barrelled it, and it carried out,” Rock said of his homer.

However, the lead was short-lived as the Tigers drew even with a Jordan Thompson solo blast in the fourth. Tyler McManus launched a solo shot of his own in the fifth to put LSU ahead, 3-2. Both homers came off Dettmer, who was saddled with a no-decision.

Behind Floyd, the Tigers used seven relievers, while just three bullpen arms followed the Aggie starter.

Right-handed reliever Grant Taylor took over in the third and kept the Aggies in check over four scoreless frames. A&M finally found success again when facing Riley Cooper and Paul Gervase in the seventh.

By winning the prototypical SEC West Friday night dogfight, perhaps the Aggies can capitalize on the new-found momentum in conference play.

“I’m happy for these guys,” Schlossnagle said. “They’ve been through a lot, and we’ll be back tomorrow.”

The Aggies and Bayou Bengals continue their three-game series on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT. Micah Dallas (3-0, 1.78 ERA) is slated to make his SEC debut for the Maroon & White.